Page 80 of The Deadbeat Next Door

“There’s nothing sedate or predictable about Cody,” I said. “The winery is his number one priority and he doesn’t have any room for a family.” Although, while he’d been living with the four of us, I’d never for a moment felt him putting us second. Of course, he hadn’t had a winery to keep him busy, yet.

Harrison shrugged, watching Jenny and Simon wrestle over the soccer ball. “Priorities change,” he said. “And so can life plans. You didn’t plan for your family to be three half-grown kids, did you?”

“That’s different, these kids need me.”

He frowned. “Maybe you need to spend some time thinking about what you need, Aunt Carrie. Are you saying you aren’t happy to have the kids?”

I looked out at the three kids. Jenny had jumped on Simon’s back and she and Kayla were trying to tickle him into submission. “I wouldn’t want it any other way, but I’m not sure happy is the right word. I’m pretty sure I’m doing everything wrong.”

He stood and came around the table to sit next to me. “I’m positive you’re doing everything right. Quit thinking so much and just enjoy the good moments. I’ll try to come around more often to hang out with all of you.”

“You have better things to do with your time,” I said, thinking of his adorable girlfriend.

“She can come, too. She’s part of the family.”

“I’d love that.” I hugged him. “What do you want for dinner? I’ve got a million and one casseroles in the fridge and freezer.”

“Betty’s homemade macaroni and cheese?”

“Ugh,” I said on a groan. “We’ve had that every night this week.”

“You don’t have any left?” he asked, batting his eyelashes.

“Simon told her it was the best he’d ever had and she’s been providing a steady supply. We just got a new batch yesterday.”

“Great,” he said. “Go in and heat it up, I’ll hang with the kiddos.”

My phone rang just as I stepped inside. I dug it out of my back pocket and answered without checking the caller ID. “Hi, sweetheart,” my mother said. “Do you have any plans this weekend?”

I pulled the mac and cheese out of the fridge as I considered her question. Did I want to be available this weekend? The kids and I were going furniture shopping with Harrison’s girlfriend Frankie Saturday morning, but I hadn’t seen my parents in more than three months, so I could put that off. “Nope,” I said. “All clear. What’s up?”

“Your father and I would like to meet the children. Do you think they’d be up for that?”

“As long as it’s a short visit,” I said. “They’re still adjusting to me and the new house.”

“Yes, of course, dear. We don’t want to monopolize your entire weekend. We’re planning to arrive before supper on Friday and we’ll leave in the late evening on Sunday.”

If it had been anyone else’s elderly parents, I would have suggested they stay longer, but my parents loved a good road trip. Even though they were almost twelve hours away in Florida, it wasn’t too crazy for them to make a short visit. “You can come in earlier if you want. I’m going to sell my house and move permanently into the one next door, so you could stay at my place and have your own space.”

“That would be perfect, dear. We’ll see you early Friday, then. We can’t wait to meet the children.”

“Love you, Mom.”

“Love you, too, sweetheart.” I hung up and grimaced. My parents were good people, but they were a bit old-school in their child-rearing policies and believed children should be seen and not heard. And it had been a long time since they’d been around kids. I suspected that these three would overwhelm my parents more than a little bit.

The oven beeped and I put in the macaroni and cheese and started the timer.

***

That Friday, my parents arrived with smiles and bags full of presents. The kids were on their best behavior and we had a lovely day together. My parents went back to my house immediately following dinner and missed the pre-bed screaming match between Kayla and Simon when Simon stole her diary and read it aloud to all of us. I calmed everyone down and got Jenny to bed. The older kids and I stayed up and watched a movie and, after they went to bed, I stretched out on the couch to watch HGTV and knit until I was sure they were settled.

I woke up to sunlight streaming through the windows, my back sore from sleeping on the couch, and a knock at the door. I leapt off the couch and hurried to the door, trying to straighten the tangles from my hair and not trip over any of the toys on the floor. I couldn’t believe I’d overslept and Frankie was already here. I couldn’t believe Jenny hadn’t woken me up.

I opened the door and found Cody, looking gorgeous and clean in jeans and a fitted t-shirt. He looked well rested and happy, like he hadn’t missed me at all.

“Cody. What are you doing here?”

He shoved his hands in his pockets and shuffled his feet. “Do you think I could talk to the kids for a few minutes?”

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